5 Questions with ... Felix Kind of the Gedore Group
Being a customer is one thing; being a true fan is quite another. To generate that kind of enthusiasm, the connection has to be right on a personal level. Felix Kind from Gedore confirms this as well. A long-time customer, regular guest speaker, case study presenter, and dedicated Academy student, he values not only the technical expertise at Consulting4IT but also the personal rapport. In this interview, he shares how friendships have even developed out of purely business relationships.
Felix, since you’re here with us and working with us so often, you’re practically part of the furniture. How many training sessions have you attended in total? And how did Gedore first come to be part of the Academy?
There were definitely four or five training sessions. A few standard Matrix42 courses—most of them in-person, with one held online during the pandemic. And I also recently attended the Lean Service Management course. We actually joined the Academy as career changers. Since our previous service provider couldn’t offer suitable training, we looked for another provider for Matrix42 training and found the Consulting4IT Academy. The fit was so good—both professionally and personally—that we decided to give working with you as a service provider a try. In short: We were looking for training, and we found you. And that’s how the partnership we have today came about.
What were your general expectations, and how do you rate other training programs compared to our Academy courses?
The training sessions offered by the other provider weren’t what we had in mind. They didn’t really focus on the product and were quite general in nature. But we were looking for training formats that would actually help us get ahead with the product. That’s exactly what we got at the Academy. The training here is definitely different and not even remotely comparable to what other providers offer—at least not to the ones I’ve attended so far.
Self-study vs. Academy – How would you rate the effectiveness of both options?
There needs to be a good balance between the two. Of course, you have to do your part during the in-person training sessions. What I particularly like about the C4IT Academy in this regard is that the sessions aren’t just lectures—instead, we work through specific tasks together. But of course, it’s also important to review the material afterward. Otherwise, not much will stick. And—a little tip on the side: During the three days of training, you should fully immerse yourself in the course and put everything else aside. Because if you try to work on the side or afterward in the hotel, it’s pretty counterproductive—I speak from personal experience.
A clear trend is already becoming apparent. But to be more specific: Which type of training—online or in-person—do you prefer, and why?
I think it’s just a matter of personality. You either like online training—or you don’t. I’m more of the “or not” type. Sure, with COVID-19, there was no other option. The content was technically good, but when it comes to this kind of thing, I’m just not an online person. Because especially with training sessions, I really value the personal interaction you get, for example, during a shared lunch break. I completely missed that during the online training.
And now for the most important question: Would you describe yourself as a true fan of our Academy, and if so, what was the deciding factor behind your enthusiasm?
To put it figuratively, I’d even be the ultimate fanboy with a little flag and a cap! It’s just that whole package that really wins me over. The location is cool, of course, but the people are definitely what make the difference. Whether it’s the trainers, consultants, or everyone else around you there. You end up sitting together outside of training sessions and just chatting—about work, but also about personal stuff. In some cases, this has even led to real friendships. It’s just this complete feel-good package: the location, the food, the people there. It just clicks.
